Department of Computer Science

Computer Science

Master of Science ETH

Computer Science Master of Science ETH 3

Information forms the basis of countless possibilities

and questions. Can a problem be solved or not?
If so, how long will it take? How can we instruct a
machine to solve a problem in the most efficient way?
What language do we use in our instructions?
How can we find patterns in a mountain of data?
What can we make of information in the form of a
painting or sculpture? How can we automate learning
or decision-making? What if the process must be
infallible? And how do we put all this into practice in
the real world?
4 Computer Science Master of Science ETH Overview 5

Contents

16 20

10

19

6 15 20
Three reasons why Further study programmes ETH Zurich
Good arguments for studying computer science at ETH Zurich. Three specialised Master’s programmes cover promising Where Albert Einstein once studied and taught.
fields of study.

7 21
What the professors say 16 Campus life
“The programme is challenging, to be sure, but upon Students’ voices Living and studying in Switzerland’s largest city, located by
completion, students are extremely well qualified for Five students share their experiences. Lake Zurich and close to the mountains.
ambitious industry jobs.”

18 22
8 Life after graduation Who? What? Where?
The Department of Computer Science (D-INFK) Spoilt for choice: work for a company, start your own Useful information and contacts for prospective students.
A faculty with a top reputation. business or begin a scientific career.

10 19
Master’s programme From science to business: ETH spin-off Beekeeper
Introduction to the structure and course categories. A Swiss app conquers the world.
6 Computer Science Master of Science ETH What the professors say 7

Three reasons why: Olga Sorkine-Hornung

Professor of Computer Graphics

Computer science at ETH Zurich Our students are part of an international environment and
benefit from diversity in their education. With faculty members
who come from all over the world, different teaching methods,
knowledge and experience flow into the lectures. At the same
time, ETH Zurich is deeply rooted in Switzerland and has its
own rich history and tradition. This combination is very stimu-
lating, and helps our students develop not only professionally
Computer science at ETH Zurich stands for state-of-the-art research, but also personally and prepares them for their future, as most
expert teaching and excellent education at one of the world’s leading will probably go on to work in international teams. ETH also
enriches my life: I appreciate teaching because I learn so much
universities, located in one of Europe’s most enjoyable cities.
from it myself. Only when you teach a subject to others do you
really understand it well yourself.

Profound and in-depth education Unique study environment

ETH’s Department of Computer Science runs a broad Studying at ETH Zurich is a unique experience. It is a
Master’s programme with five different majors, taught highly stimulating place with a friendly, cooperative Timothy Roscoe
exclusively in English. Its structure allows students and respectful atmosphere, bringing together stu- Professor of Computing Platforms
to choose from a variety of courses and to tailor the dents from all over the world. Two campus locations,
curriculum to meet their particular interests, needs both distinguished by their prominent position and Our Master’s programme in computer science benefits greatly
and goals. The objective is to help students to receive with modern infrastructures, are the perfect place from its connections to companies in Zurich and the surround-
an in-depth education in their field of choice while also for learning, research and leisure. ing area. Zurich has a burgeoning IT industry scene. Many major
becoming creative and efficient problem-solvers in the IT companies either have significant research and engineering
general domain of computer science. Professional administration teams help students get facilities in and around Zurich or have chosen to establish pres-
started, provide individual student counselling and tigious research labs in the area. Moreover, in part due to the
Besides imparting knowledge and skills to students give out academic advice. Committed student associ- presence of ETH, the Zurich start-up scene is flourishing, with
to help them in their future career, ETH places great ations and commissions offer support during studies many spin-offs having emerged from our department over the
emphasis on the development of cross-disciplinary and exam periods, help people connect, and contribute years. Our students benefit from the opportunity to do intern-
competences such as critical reflection and argumen- to a diverse and inspiring culture. ■ ships locally, and gain a valuable industrial perspective through
tation. The possibility of writing an interdisciplinary guest lectures and the network of informal ties between the
Master’s thesis in cooperation with other ETH depart- department and local industry.
ments offers further fascinating opportunities.

Worldwide reputation
For students who want to receive the highest-quality
education in a field that continues to change the world,
ETH Zurich is the perfect choice. David Basin
Professor of Information Security
The study programme is closely connected to the
department’s world-class research groups. Nine in- Our study programme offers students the opportunity to com-
stitutes and chairs, with about 500 academic staff bine fundamental, ground-breaking research with state-of-the
compromising professors, post-doctoral and senior art engineering. Through their studies and projects, students
researchers and doctoral students, currently teach are provided with a rich spectrum of intellectual tools to shape
and undertake research. They are among the best in the future of computing and applications. The courses offered
their field and maintain global connections and take include all the latest and most relevant computer science topics
part in collaborative projects with the most prestig- and allow students to undertake a dive deep into specialised
ious universities. areas. The programme is challenging, to be sure, but upon
completion, students are extremely well qualified for either
Students have ample opportunities to participate in ambitious industry jobs or, if they opt to do so, continuing their
exciting research projects, often in collaboration with training by pursuing a doctoral degree in research. The person-
industry or the local research centres of international al encounters and professional exchanges with our students
companies. and young researchers from all over the world are the most
valuable aspects of my work.
8 Computer Science Master of Science ETH The Department of Computer Science 9

A department of
international renown
Founded in 1981 at the interface of mathematics, engineering and
natural sciences, the Department of Computer Science (D-INFK)
today holds a leading position worldwide.

Pioneering mission Around 350 doctoral students and 110 post-doctor-

Dedicated to undertaking basic research, the Depart- al and senior researchers contribute to maintaining
ment of Computer Science at ETH Zurich develops the department’s high level of teaching and research.
reliable, efficient and secure computer and IT Around 1,400 Bachelor’s and 1,000 Master’s students
solutions for use in society, industry and science. currently benefit from this excellent academic envi-
Moreover, while its main focus is on training com- ronment.
puter scientists at the highest level, the department
also provides computer science foundations to stu- Strong research and business network
dents of other disciplines, offers continuing education The department maintains strong ties with a wide net-
programmes and contributes to the high quality of work of top universities around the globe. Close coop-
general computer science education in local schools. eration with scientists abroad is an integral part of its
It thus makes an important contribution to the excel- research culture. This offers exciting prospects for
lence of education in society as a whole. students: they are able to enjoy lectures from interna-
tional experts, experience collaborative learning with
While maintaining longstanding, traditional ties with students from the best foreign universities or spend
electrical engineering and mathematics, department a semester at one of ETH’s many partner universities
researchers increasingly interact with other disci- through the exchange programme. The department
plines including physics, mechanical engineering and also participates in intensive research collaborations
the life sciences. In addition, the department collabo- with global IT players and research centres, such as
rates with numerous external centres and labs when DisneyResearch|Studios, Microsoft, IBM, SAP and
developing certain topics, as part of joint research Google, and with financial service companies such as
programmes or during outreach activities. Latest ZKB and Six. Findings from such research flow directly
examples include the ETH AI Center and the Cyber into teaching.
Defence Campus.
Outstanding infrastructure
A faculty of global standing ETH Zurich offers state-of-the-art learning facilities, a
More than 45 professors from all over the world con- modern infrastructure and highly qualified employees.
duct their research and teach at the Department of One of its key strengths is the technology platforms
Computer Science. They are among the best in their that make specialist tools accessible. For instance,
field and span the many facets of modern computer in the department’s Computer Graphics Laboratory
science, from the underlying theory to the design and students can work with novel three-dimensional scan-
construction of practical systems. Boasting a con- ning technology developed at ETH Zurich. Students
sistently high international ranking, the department working on simulations and big data have access to its
is widely considered to be one of the best places in high-performance computing clusters, and for large-
the world in which to study and undertake research scale projects it is even possible to access the Swiss
in computer science. National Supercomputing Centre. ■

www.inf.ethz.ch
10 Computer Science Master of Science ETH Programme overview 11

A top-quality study programme

with a flexible structure
The Master of Science ETH in Computer Science programme features a variety
of comprehensive, advanced and in-depth learning tracks. The free choice
of major and minor subjects ensures a flexible curriculum design.

Who can apply? The programme comprises several course categories. Each cat-
egory requires a minimum number of credits to be gained, as
Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree in computer science or listed below. 120 credits are required to complete the degree,
must have graduated with distinction from a related field such as of which at least 26 must come from the major subject chosen,
electrical engineering, physics or mathematics. A strong back- within which 16 must come from core courses.
ground in both practical and theoretical topics in computer sci-
ence and mathematics is required.
Master ETH Zurich in Computer Science 120
Admission decisions are based on the curriculum of the appli-
Major26
cant’s Bachelor’s programme, the level of mastery reached in
Core Courses 16
each subject, their personal statement of purpose, the submitted
Core Electives
reference letters and the reputation of their graduating university,
among other factors. For further details, candidates should refer Minor18
to the admission website.
Inter Focus Courses 16

Seminar2
Curriculum structure
Practical Work 8
Duration: 4 semesters
Free Elective Courses
ECTS credits: 120
Language: English Science in Perspective 2
Degree: Master of Science ETH in Computer Science
Master’s Thesis 30
The Master’s programme in computer science offers a profound
and in-depth education in the core areas of computer science. The
wide range of available courses and the flexible structure allow
students to tailor their studies to meet their particular interests,
needs and goals.

Students choose one of five majors. The degree programme

structure is the same for each major, but the courses students
may choose vary according to which major is selected.
12 Computer Science Master of Science ETH Majors and Minors 13

Course categories Core courses:

4. Visual and Interactive Computing 5. Theoretical Computer Science
– Advanced Machine Learning The digital processing of visual information has become a core The goal of theoretical computer science is to understand the
– Deep Learning topic in modern computer science and information technology. fundamental concepts of computation and information, which is
Majors – Probabilistic Artificial Intelligence Building on theoretical foundations from computer science and comparable in spirit to the goal of physics: understanding funda-
– Machine Perception applied mathematics, visual computing is central to a diverse ar- mental concepts like matter and energy.
– Optimisation for Data Science
There are five majors to choose from. They form the basis of the ray of application domains: image generation and analysis, com-
Master’s programme and ensure that students acquire a deep in- putational photography, modelling and control of robotic systems, Topics include models of computation (from automata theory to
sight into specific subjects and achieve a high level of competence Elective courses: virtual and augmented reality, computational fabrication, user quantum computers), algorithms and data structures, computa-
in their chosen area of specialisation. – Natural Language Processing interfaces, interaction techniques and interactive devices, and bility and computational complexity theory, information theory,
– Reliable and Trustworthy Intelligence more. and cryptography. Randomness is a core concept that spans all
– Computer Vision
areas of theoretical computer science.
– Statistical Learning Theory
1. Data Management Systems – Machine Learning for Health Care Methodologically, visual computing is rooted in computer graph-
Modern data management involves a wide variety of systems and – 3D Vision ics, algorithmic geometry, and digital image processing and com- Core courses:
functionality that form the basis of any software endeavour. From – Guarantees for Machine Learning puter vision. Strong conceptual and algorithmic links to compu- – Randomised Algorithms and Probabilistic Methods
– Artificial Intelligence in Learning – Advanced Machine Learning
machine learning to websites, from electronic commerce to the tational sciences and machine learning provide visual computing
– Foundations of Reinforcement Learning – Geometry: Combinatorics and Algorithms
Internet of Things, any modern application involves the manage- with the tools that are necessary to solve large-scale visualisation – Advanced Graph Algorithms and Optimisation
– Philosophy of Language and Computation
ment of large amounts of data. – Computational Semantics for Natural Language Processing and inference problems. – Optimisation for Data Science
– Machine Learning for Genomics – Advanced Graph Algorithms and Optimisation
This track covers the design, development, use, operation and – Interactive Machine Learning: Visualisation and Explainability Core courses:
application of data-management systems, including relational – Advanced Formal Language Theory – Computer Graphics
– Mathematics of Information – Computer Vision Elective courses:
database engines, data streaming engines, key value stores, – Probabilistic Methods in Combinatorics
– Computational Statistics – Shape Modelling and Geometry Processing
noSQL, Spark/Hadoop and other big data platforms, as well as – AI-Center Projects in Machine Learning Research – Machine Perception – Cryptographic Protocols
semi-structured/graph data management systems. In terms of – Computational Models of Motion – Approximation and Online Algorithms
computing platforms, the track covers implementations ranging – Algorithmics for Hard Problems
– Information Theory I
from single nodes to entire data centres, with a special emphasis
Elective courses: – Guarantees for Machine Learning
placed on cloud computing. The track is organised to provide an 3. Secure and Reliable Systems – Algebraic Methods in Combinatorics
– Physically-Based Simulation in Computer Graphics
in-depth look into data management systems via core courses, Secure and reliable systems are a cornerstone of the continued – Mathematical Foundations of Computer Graphics and Vision – Linear and Combinatorial Optimisation
and to connect students, via elective courses, with relevant sub- expansion and acceptance of the information society. Their devel- – 3D Vision – Models of Computation
jects closely related to modern data management systems. opment and analysis is at the heart of several research disciplines – Mixed Reality – Digital Signatures
– Mobile Health and Activity Monitoring – Graph Theory
within computer science, including information security, program-
– Interactive Machine Learning: Visualisation / Explainability – Network and Integer Optimisation: From Theory to Application
Core courses: ming languages and software engineering. – Quantum Information Processing: Concepts
– Big Data – Scientific Visualisation
– Data Management Systems – Virtual Humans
Students in this major programme learn how to systematically – Deep Learning for Autonomous Driving
– Cloud Computing Architecture
construct and analyse a range of secure and reliable modern sys-
tems, including software, hardware and networks.
Elective courses:
– Advanced Machine Learning Core courses:
– System Security – Concepts of Object-Oriented Programming
– Deep Learning – Security Engineering Minors
– Design of Parallel and High-Performance Computing – System Security
– Informal Methods – Design of Parallel and High-Performance Computing The objective of a minor subject is to cover a further computer
– Advanced Operating Systems – Network Security science or an interdisciplinary subject area. To avoid over-spe-
– Principles of Distributed Computing – Applied Cryptography cialisation, certain combinations of majors and minors are not
– Program Analysis for System Security and Reliability permissible.
– Automated Software Testing

and Software Engineering

Programming Languages
2. Machine Intelligence

Theoretical Computer
Information Security
Computer Graphics
Machine Intelligence pursues the goal of automatically creating

Systems Software
Elective courses:

Data Management

Machine Learning
Computer Vision
models and design inference and decision procedures based on – Security of Wireless Networks
empirical evidence, i.e. data and human-provided knowledge. – Reliable and Interpretable Artificial Intelligence

Networking
– Hardware Security
Notions of generalisation and learnability determine central

Science
– Cryptographic Protocols
conceptional challenges. Different modes of learning – including – Formal Methods for Information Security
supervised, weakly supervised, unsupervised, online and adap- – Advanced Encryption Schemes
tive learning – are studied through a rigorous mathematical and – Zero-Knowledge Proofs
Data Management Systems P P × P P P P × P
statistical framework. – Program Verification
– Digital Signatures Machine Intelligence P × P P × P P P P
The interplay of statistical estimation and computation touches
Secure and Reliable Systems P P P × P P × P P
on hardware architectures for machine learning, machine per-
ception, high-performance computation and efficient information Visual and Interactive Computing × × P P P P P P P
systems. An important aspect consists of developing intelligent
Theoretical Computer Science P P P P P P P P ×
systems that can cope with unstructured real-world data.
14 Computer Science Master of Science ETH Further study programmes 15

Inter Focus Courses

The Inter Focus Courses cover cross-cutting computer science
Free elective courses
All Master’s level courses in the area of computer science or a
Specialised Master’s programmes
topics that are of central importance beyond the selected major closely related field, offered by ETH Zurich, EPF Lausanne and
and minors. They teach algorithmic reasoning – from real-world the University of Zurich may be chosen as free elective courses.
problems to algorithmic modelling and implementation – and in- This gives students the freedom to select from a huge variety
troduce students to advanced systems design issues. The courses of topics and to broaden their interdisciplinary perspectives by As an alternative to the general Master of Science ETH in Computer
include: gaining insights into other subjects and experiencing life at other Science described in this brochure, Bachelor’s graduates can choose
universities. one of three specialised Master’s programmes offered by the Depart-
– Algorithms Lab
– Information Security Lab ment of Computer Science in cooperation with other departments.
– Computational Intelligence Lab Science in perspective
– Advanced Systems Lab
Science in perspective is an integral part of the curriculum. Stu- Consecutive:
dents learn to understand and critically question the correlations
Seminars between scientific knowledge, technological innovations, cultural Master of Science ETH in Cyber Security
contexts, individuals and society. Students have a free choice of Today’s global society and economy increasingly depend on the smooth processing of
Seminars serve to train students in how to read and understand two credits from the Department of Humanities, Social and Polit- digital information. In turn, the need to protect data against misuse is also growing.
scientific publications. They usually build on previously attended ical Sciences (D-GESS). Security technologies help to improve existing systems, make them more secure and
lectures and promote active discussion among participants. Sem- protect them from hackers or criminal organisations. At the same time, they enable new
inars often cover recent developments in a particular subject and applications and help to reshape society by challenging and redefining existing norms
provide an interesting way to learn about cutting-edge research. Master’s thesis and assumptions when it comes to trust. In the cyber security Master’s programme
offered by ETH Zurich and EPF Lausanne as a joint degree, students are trained to solve
The Master’s thesis demonstrates a student’s ability to use the important security problems in computer systems, networks and applications. They are
Practical work knowledge and skills acquired during their Master’s studies to able to choose their specific path from a wide range of courses and, after successfully
solve a nontrivial computer science problem. It takes between completing their studies, use their knowledge to help develop secure information infra-
Practical work develops students’ ability to solve technological four and six months to complete and usually marks the conclusion structures that serve important needs both today and in the future.
scientific problems by applying acquired knowledge and social of the Master’s programme.
skills. It takes place within semester projects or lab courses, and  www.inf.ethz.ch/master-cybsec
is conducted under the supervision of a professor from the De-
partment of Computer Science. Further details on the study programme can be found in the study With admission:
guide: www.inf.ethz.ch/master-cs ■
Master of Science ETH in Data Science
Computers have fundamentally changed the way we produce, manage, process and an-
alyse data. In light of the continuous growth of data all around the globe, the question of
how we can use it to gain valuable insights is more important than ever. How can relevant
information be extracted from the massive amounts of data generated on a daily basis?
In which ways can computers learn from experience to make intelligent decisions? These
questions are key to the specialised data science Master’s programme, which is jointly
run by the Departments of Mathematics (D-MATH), Information Technology and Electrical
Engineering (D-ITET), and Computer Science (D-INFK) at ETH Zurich.

www.inf.ethz.ch/data-science

Master of Science ETH in Robotics, Systems and Control

The development of intelligent robots and systems requires knowledge in diverse areas
of expertise. It raises fundamental questions on how best to design, model and control
complex and highly interactive systems. Bridging the gap between various engineering
disciplines, this programme offers students a unique learning environment and a multi-
disciplinary education that will enable them to develop innovative and intelligent products
and systems to meet today’s most pressing challenges: energy supply, the environment,
health care and mobility. This specialised programme is offered jointly by the Depart-
ments of Mechanical and Process Engineering (D-MAVT), Information Technology and
Electrical Engineering (D-ITET), and Computer Science (D-INFK) at ETH Zurich.

 www.master-robotics.ethz.ch
16 Computer Science Master of Science ETH What our students say 17

Students’ voices Simona Hohl, 25

Swiss, 4th semester
I completed my Bachelor’s degree at ETH Zurich before pursuing my
Master’s. I didn’t like going to school but to my surprise, I love studying –
From the Master’s level onwards, the student body is it’s much more challenging and interesting. It takes hard work to learn
as international and diverse as the faculty, guaranteeing and understand everything that we’re taught, but you’re not doing it alone.
You and your fellow students work as a team. This is my favourite part
a stimulating study experience.
about studying – I have made many friends at ETH. The courses offered
are excellent, which allows you to pursue many different career paths.
I’m very interested in theoretical computer science because it gives you
the opportunity to think long and hard about a problem. But I also enjoy
other areas of computer science and plan to work as a consultant or to
join a start-up.
Tom Cinbis, 22
German, 2nd semester
I was interested in computers from an early age and I always wanted to
learn more, so I chose to pursue a computer science degree. The possibility
of programming huge structures or analysing data in scales that exceed
human capabilities fascinates me. Also, computer science allows me
to work on problems that affect many people and hopefully improve their
lives in some way. I chose ETH Zurich for my Master’s degree because
it offers a great selection of lectures which I’m free to combine into a Katharina Boersig, 24
curriculum that matches my interests. The people at ETH are passionate German, 2nd semester
about their work and you can always find someone to exchange ideas with.
Passion for your subject also helps you persevere during tough periods I have two Bachelor’s degrees, one in computer science and one in physics.
in your studies. For my Master’s, I chose computer science: not only is it more fun, but it
also has a greater impact on the future. I wanted to learn from the best
people in the field, so I applied to ETH Zurich. The immense variety of
courses and workshops on offer and the high quality of teaching sealed
the deal for me. The courses are challenging and time-consuming, but well
worth the effort. After all, computer science is needed almost everywhere,
giving you a lot of choices for careers and specialisations. For my part,
I want to use my degree to make a positive impact on the world, be it with
an NGO, a company or my own start-up.

Xiaojing Xia, 25
Chinese, 3rd semester
I wanted a change after studying and working in the United
States for six years, so I decided to come to ETH Zurich
for my Master’s degree. ETH is known for its highly skilled
graduates and the people I’ve met here truly enjoy learning
about all aspects of computer science. Not only is it an excellent David Yenicelik, 22
environment for studying, but its reputation will give your German/Turkish, 4th semester
career a boost. There are also many opportunities to enjoy
student life in among the heavy course load. You can play sports Studying at ETH Zurich is mentally stimulating and fun. There’s
at ASVZ or use the convenient public transport to discover always another subject or a new perspective you can discover,
Switzerland. In addition, Zurich lies in the centre of Europe, and ETH pushes its students to reach their intellectual limits
making it an ideal location to travel as well as to meet people and beyond. The economic resources of ETH enable impressive
from different countries. research, some of which gets transferred to industry. And it
also has excellent infrastructure to allow for student projects,
on which you can work with like-minded people from around
the globe. I worked on various side projects and as a research
assistant throughout my Master’s studies. This taught me a lot
and brought me together with people who share my interests.
For example, we founded Swissloop, a student organisation that
builds pods for the SpaceX Hyperloop competition.
18 Life after graduation From science to business 19

Professional outlook and Beekeeper: the spin-off connecting

career opportunities frontline workers around the world
ETH graduates enjoy an excellent reputation in Switzerland and worldwide. From a student dating app to an essential
After completing their studies, graduates work across the globe communication platform for hundreds
in both industry and academic research, often in leading positions. of thousands of frontline workers all over the
world, the ETH spin-off Beekeeper has
Excellent prospects
come a long way from its humble beginnings.
Most ETH Zurich computer science alumni work as
software engineers, consultants, IT architects or in It’s easy for a company to reach an office worker: desk-bound
sales and pre-sales for companies across a wide employees have access to email and a variety of other commu-
range of industries, such as finance, public transport, nication software. But over 80 percent of all workers worldwide
health care, one of the many branches of the technol- hardly ever set foot in an office. They work in factories, distribu-
ogy industry or in the biotech sector. Roles within the tion centres, hotels, construction sites, retail stores – and they
automotive, robotics or the video and games industry need to receive information from the company to do their job well
are equally fascinating, and computer scientists are just as much as their office counterparts. Beekeeper, a spin-off
always in demand in these areas. company founded by two ETH students, connects these workers Flavio Pfaffhauser & Cristian Grossmann
to their managers and to each other.
After a few years gaining professional experience,
computer science graduates can look forward to In the beginning, computer science Master’s student Flavio Pfaff- Far from failing, Beekeeper soon became the fastest-growing
getting fascinating and responsible jobs as experts hauser and electrical engineering doctoral student Cristian Gross- company in its sector. Today, it has around 200 employees work-
or leaders. For example, many work in diverse roles mann set out to make a dating app for students at ETH Zurich. ing in Zurich, the San Francisco Bay Area, Berlin and Krakow. Hun-
such as project managers, members of the executive It quickly grew into a general social platform. Its success made dreds of thousands of frontline workers in over 130 countries use
board or CIOs (Chief Information Officers). Pfaffhauser and Grossmann wonder: what else could it be used the smartphone-based platform, from the pizza giant Domino’s to
for? In 2012, they co-founded Beekeeper. As an official ETH spin- London’s Heathrow Airport or the Swiss building materials man-
Entrepreneurial success off, the young company was able to take advantage of benefits ufacturer Holcim. And even though Flavio Pfaffhauser no longer
Some computer scientists dream of founding their Computer science alumnus Urs Hölzle was one of such as business counselling, networking opportunities and af- gets to do much programming in his role as Chief Innovation Of-
own start-up company. To this end, ETH Zurich and its the first ten Google employees and is now Senior Vice fordable office space. “It was the perfect time to start a company,” ficer, many of the software engineers who develop Beekeeper are
President for Technical Infrastructure at Google.
associated organisations offer students a wide range Pfaffhauser says. “We were young, we had received an excellent ETH graduates themselves. ■
of courses and programmes to help them acquire the education and we had nothing to lose. Had we failed, we could’ve
necessary knowledge and contacts for self-employ- found a job quickly.”
ment during their degree. Over the years, numerous
former ETH computer scientists have established
start-ups, many of which have developed into suc-
cessful companies, such as Doodle, Ubique, Duolingo From science to business
or Comerge. Sometimes students develop an innovative product
idea while undertaking university research. When this
A scientific career happens, ETH Zurich supports them in their efforts to
For those Master’s students whose passion for science transfer research results to industry, for example by
in general and a specific field in particular continues licensing them to external companies or by supporting
to grow during their studies, there is the possibility the researchers as they set up their own company.
to apply for a doctoral programme, either in one of
the internationally renowned research groups of the Since 1993, members of the Department of Computer
Department of Computer Science or at another pres- Science have founded 50 spin-offs, including Scandit,
tigious university. GetYourGuide, DeepCode, Teralytics, Anapaya Sys-
tems, Auterion and Beekeeper – just to name a few.
ETH Zurich offers its spin-off entrepreneurs valua- Since 2012, the ETH spin-off
Beekeeper has been
ble business advice, provides them with premises at connecting employees with-
a discounted rate and supports them in establishing out a desktop computer with
important and useful contacts. ■ both other team members
and the entire company,
enabling communication and
exchange in real time.
20 A world-class university Metropolis in the heart of Europe 21

ETH Zurich – Living and studying in

where the future begins Switzerland and Zurich
Everyday student life can be quite
stressful and demanding. This makes
it all the more important to have a
well-organised learning setting, a strong
social environment and a good balance
between study and leisure time.

Where quality of life and beauty meet

Switzerland is famous for its political and economic
stability, public safety and extraordinary beauty. Na-
tional institutions like schools, healthcare providers
and public transportation are of excellent quality.
Many Swiss people are multilingual and, especially
in the cities, English is often spoken. German is not
required for a Master’s programme at ETH, but a basic
Where once Albert knowledge will help when settling in.
Einstein studied and
taught: the Main Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city. It is truly interna-
Building of ETH Zurich
is one of the city’s tional and ethnically diverse, offering a modern life-
landmarks. style and a vibrant nightlife. For many years, Zurich
has been ranked among the top cities in the world for
quality of life.
Freedom and personal responsibility, an entrepreneurial spirit Top rankings
and openness to the world: Switzerland’s core values were also ETH Zurich is an institution with regional and national roots that Centrally located with a view
central to the foundation of ETH Zurich. The roots of this technical is fully integrated into the international academic community. It ETH Zurich’s campuses are distinguished by their
and scientific university go back to 1855, when the founders of measures itself in all respects against the world’s leading uni- central locations and are easily accessible by public
modern Switzerland created this place of innovation and knowl- versities – from its education and research to its management. transport. The Zentrum campus, with its historic Main
edge. At ETH Zurich today, students find an environment that de- Building, is within walking distance of the beautiful
mands independent thinking, while researchers enjoy a climate In international rankings, ETH Zurich regularly features as one old town, which is replete with restaurants, cafés,
that inspires them to achieve excellence. Located at the heart of of the best universities of technology and natural sciences in the museums and galleries. It is also close to a long prom-
Europe and part of a worldwide network, ETH Zurich develops world and as the leading university in its field in continental Eu- enade next to the lake that stretches more than 30 km To enable growth and learning outside the classroom,
solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow. rope. towards the mountains. ETH students and their associations provide a wide
range of services for their peers. With networking
For the benefit of society Bright minds A caring community events, parties, barbecues, dance classes, the photo-
ETH Zurich currently has over 22,500 students from more than The 21 Nobel laureates who have studied, taught or conducted ETH provides a safe and pleasant environment that graphy lab, music rooms, cultural and artistic projects,
120 countries, of whom almost 4,500 are doctoral students. More research at ETH Zurich underline the excellent reputation of the contributes to an inspirational learning experience. the entrepreneur club and the facilities provided by the
than 520 professors teach and conduct research in the fields of university. Among the prize winners are Wilhelm Konrad Röntgen The university embraces diversity, and places strong Student's Projects House, it is fair to say that there is
engineering, architecture, mathematics, natural sciences, sys- (1901), Albert Einstein (1921) and Kurt Wüthrich (2002). A Turing emphasis on values such as respectful interaction as something for everyone.
tems-oriented sciences, management and social sciences. Award, popularly labelled the Nobel Prize in Computer Science, well as taking individual responsibility.
was awarded to Niklaus Wirth (1984), one of the earliest computer For brain, body and soul
The findings and innovations of ETH Zurich researchers are in- scientists and inventor of the Pascal programming language. ■ Physical activity and a healthy lifestyle are part of the
corporated into some of the fastest-growing and most promising university’s culture. The Academic Sports Associa-
sectors of the Swiss economy: from IT, micro and nanotechnology www.ethz.ch tion Zurich (ASVZ) provides state-of-the-art athletic
to high-tech medicine. Each year, ETH applies for around 100 pat- facilities and over 120 different activities and sports,
ents and 150 inventions. More than 500 spin-off companies have including outdoors, utilising Switzerland’s beautiful
emerged from the university. mountain and lake landscape. ■

www.ethz.ch/student-life
22 Information and addresses

Who? What? Where?

Address Scholarships
ETH Zurich It is primarily the responsibility of students and their families to
Department of Computer Science finance their studies. If their means are insufficient, students may
Universitätstrasse 6, CAB file a scholarship request or apply for the Excellence Scholarship &
8092 Zurich Opportunity Programme.
Switzerland www.ethz.ch/scholarships

Studies Administration Office Student organisations

[email protected] www.vis.ethz.ch
www.vseth.ethz.ch
Application and admission www.ethz.ch/int-student-associations
Depending on the selected Master’s programme and where the Bache-
lor’s degree has been earned, a different admission process applies. Committee for students without ETH Bachelor
vis.ethz.ch/moeb
Bachelor’s degree from ETH Zurich:
Some Master’s degree programmes require a formal application, while Campus life
others permit direct registration. www.ethz.ch/student-life
www.asvz.ch
Bachelor’s degree from other Swiss or foreign universities: www.gastro.ethz.ch
All students from other Swiss or foreign universities must apply at the www.bqm-bar.ch
Admissions Office. www.ethz.ch/sph

Before starting the admission process, please check your eligibility: Accommodation
www.ethz.ch/application www.wohnen.ethz.ch
www.woko.ch
Admissions Office www.wgzimmer.ch
All information regarding the admission process is provided by the www.students.ch
Admissions Office. www.homegate.ch
www.admission.ethz.ch www.ronorp.net

Application deadlines Social Media

First application window: www.facebook.com/ETHInformatik
1 November – 30 November mandatory for: www.twitter.com/csateth
– students with a bachelor's degree from outside Switzerland www.linkedin.com/school/csateth
- students who wish to apply for the Excellence & Opportunity Scholar- www.youtube.com/ETHInformatik
ship programme (ESOP) or a Direct Doctorate programme (DD)
- Students with a Master's degree/PhD from a Swiss university who Photo Captions
obtained their undergraduate degree outside Switzerland p. 7, 16, 17: Jonas Weibel
p. 8, 9, 14: Ruth Erdt
Students with a Swiss Bachelor's degree are also welcome to apply p. 15: Alessandro Della Bella (bottom)
during this period. p. 18: Google
p. 19: Beekeeper (top), iStock (bottom)
Second application window: p. 20, 21: ETH Zurich
1 April – 30 April
Only available for students with a Swiss Bachelor's degree.

Dates are subject to change. Please visit the admission office website.

Financial information
ETH Zurich is committed to providing affordable education and,
in contrast to most other top universities, keeps tuition fees to a
minimum. Tuition and semester fees at ETH amount to around
CHF 800 per semester. In addition, it is estimated that students
spend CHF 20,000 to CHF 26,000 on study and living costs each year.
www.ethz.ch/financial
ETH Zurich
Department of Computer Science
Universitätstrasse 6, CAB
8092 Zurich
Switzerland

www.inf.ethz.ch

Publisher: ETH Zurich, Department of Computer Science

Project lead: Sandra Herkle
Design: Scholtysik
Print: Wolfensberger AG
2nd edition 2022

© ETH Zurich, May 2024